40th House hopefuls carving out their own identities

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to include 40th State House candidate Mike Banerian.)

President Donald Trump was a polarizing figure before he got elected and has continued to be a lightning rod since his inauguration. The same can be said for both Bernie Sanders and, of course, Hillary Clinton for the Democrats.

Banerian(Photo: Submitted)

While the president is such a larger-than-life figure and Sanders and Clinton are still trying to have an impact on their party, candidates for the state House 40th District (which encompasses Birmingham and Bloomfield Township) are, in some instances, distancing themselves from national party leaders and hoping to find their own identity (according to responses to questionnaires sent out by Hometown Life; not all candidates responded).

Bossardet(Photo: Submitted)

For instance, Republican Malissa Bossardet of Bloomfield Township, one of six Republicans in the primary, said she bases her decisions on her own set of values.

“My core beliefs do not alter based on our president,” Bossardet said. “I support our president, as I have supported our past presidents. Sometimes I agree and other times I disagree, but my core values are my compass.”

Paul Secrest, a Republican from Birmingham, on the other hand, said he supports Trump’s policies, though he doesn’t think they’ve been put into play very well.

Secrest(Photo: Submitted)

“I am a strong Trump supporter on trade and immigration, not as happy with implementation,” Secrest said. “Tariffs should be based on the income level of countries in order to protect worker wages, i.e., none on first world, high on third world. (Trump’s) immigration rhetoric does not match actions. Most Republicans do not realize how close this nation is to becoming a one-party democracy. The Republican role will be reduced to opposing liberal Supreme Court nominees. That will happen as early as 2024, when Texas flips Democratic, the result of massive illegal immigration.”

Republican Mike Banerian calls himself a "pragmatic conservative" who believes Trump has "exceeded my expectations" on policy, but he has some disagreements with the president.

"I am a proud and principled conservative, but we also need leaders who will put aside partisan rhetoric and have a conversation with those from all political backgrounds," Banerian said. "I support our president, and on policy he has exceeded my expectations. However, the president and I have far different approaches to our rhetoric, and I think we need leaders with a positive and uniting attitude in our government."

Republican Joe Zane of Birmingham, who earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at the U.S. Naval Academy, said his military status means he supports the commander-in-chief.

“Upholding the U.S. Constitution, the Michigan Constitution and the rule of law is always my guiding principle,” Zane said. “Serving the people of the 40th District will be my focus. There will be areas where I agree with President Trump and areas where I disagree with him. In either case, I pledge to stand up with integrity for what is right for the country, the state and the people.”

Taros(Photo: Submitted)

Republican Paul Taros believes Trump has “done many good things,” pointing to the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, the tax-cut bill, rollback of burdensome regulations, the travel ban, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and withdrawal from the Paris climate deal among them.

“Overall, (Trump) is disrupting the Washington, D.C., swamp and that is a very good thing," Taros said. "I am running as my own man. I have been a Tea Party activist, a Republican precinct delegate since 2010 and host of a cable TV political talk show called 'Tough Talk with Taros.' I hope to go to Lansing and fight against the political elites who think the offices they hold are theirs to bequeath to their anointed successor.”

Republican David Wolkinson said he supports Trump and appreciates his “bold, no-nonsense approach to getting things done in Washington." In addition, Wolkinson said he believes “strong Republican economic policy will continue to help our country” in its economic recovery.

“As a small business owner and proud Michigander, I want to make Michigan the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family,” Wolkinson said. “Politicians can be divisive and I try very hard to lead by being true to my values of exemplifying a principled, pragmatic conservative. I am a life-long Republican and wherever I fall on the ‘spectrum of Republican,’ I am proud to land.”

Manoogian(Photo: Submitted)

Democrat Mari Manoogian of Birmingham, while not addressing her positions akin to either Sanders or Clinton, pointed out she’s a “proud Democrat from a union family.”

“We are a big tent party that attracts individuals from a variety of backgrounds,” Manoogian said. “Our shared progressive values are what connect us. We understand the importance of civil rights, economic opportunity and environmental justice. I will never stop fighting for these values. Democrats must join together to move our nation forward into an era of freedom and opportunity.”

Nicole Bedi, a Democrat from Birmingham, has traces of both in her style, she said.

“I am a fiscally responsible, socially left Democrat who believes in common-sense solutions to the problems that Americans are experiencing,” Bedi said.

Bedi(Photo: Submitted)

Contact Brad Kadrich at bkadrich@hometownlife.com. Follow him on Twitter: @bkadrich.